9-10 November 2019 Year C

Dear Parishioners,

Dennis Byrnes

I am writing to let you know an article was published online by the Port News website last Thursday and may be republished in a future edition of the Port News. The article related to the conviction of Dennis Byrnes, former Parish Priest of Wauchope and Kempsey, on historic sex offences.

This matter has been the subject of a lengthy suppression order by the court in order to protect the victim in this case and as such I have been prevented from addressing this issue until now.

You may or may not have been aware that Dennis had been living in retirement in Port Macquarie since 2008. Once historical sexual abuse allegations were made his ability to act as a catholic priest was withdrawn by Diocesan Authorities in accordance with Diocesan and National Policies in relation to Child Sexual Abuse. Therefore, since that time, Dennis Byrnes has done no work as a Catholic Priest in the Port Macquarie Parish or the Diocese of Lismore. We have also co-operated fully with the relevant Civil Authorities to ensure that this matter was fully investigated. Subsequently, Dennis was arrested, charged and sentenced and is now in jail serving that sentence.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victim in this case, who showed great courage in coming forward so that appropriate action could be taken and proper support given. I am deeply saddened by the hurt and pain the victim suffered and I sincerely hope that the victim is able to find some measure of healing and peace as a result of this process.

As I have mentioned before ‘the evil of child abuse exists in every strata of our world’ and it needs to be exposed and stamped out. So, if you have been the victim of sexual abuse of any kind, within your family, the church or the community, I strongly encourage you to report it to the police, just as this brave person has done.

God bless.

Paul

OUR VISION

"Everything is to be oriented towards the praise and glory of God".

OUR MISSION The St Agnes' Parish Community strives to make our Vision a reality

by a commitment to:

holiness in the image of Christ.

proclaim the good news of salvation.

minister within the faith community.

the service of all, particularly those in need.

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Christmas Hampers Sponsor slips for families requiring hampers are now available in the Church. Please leave your name and phone number on the ‘sponsor’ section and cut off the lower section with ‘family’ details to take with you. If you would like to donate money, or items, for the hampers you can leave them at the Presbytery Office. Please note completed hampers are not to be delivered to the presbytery office. If you call the office arrangements will be made to deliver hampers to the hall. Hampers need to be the Church prior to Sunday, 1 December.

November Intention Book

During the month of November parishioners are invited to record the names of deceased loved ones in the special memory book located near the sanctuary steps. This gesture helps us to recall those of our relatives and friends who have gone before us and to reflect upon our faith in Christ, our risen Lord, who conquers sin and death and brings new life to all.

‘A Journey into the Catholic Faith’ Wednesday 13 November

6.00pm in St Agnes’ Youth Hub Is for anyone interested in knowing more about the Catholic Faith from an adult perspective. Discussions on the Catholic faith will be in a casual setting offering conversation and guidance on how your faith can enrich your everyday life. For more information call the Presbytery on 6583 1024.

This week’s discussion will be:

Why does the Church exist? In this topic, we will discuss the meaning of the Church. The questions to be explored are? What is the Church? What does the Church do? What life does the Church offer us?

Mass of the Angels Will be held on Wednesday, 20 November at the 5.15pm Mass. Parishioners are invited to come together to pray for one another and for all who grieve the loss of a child. This Mass provides an opportunity for parents, grandparents, individuals and families to remember the ones in their lives who are no longer with them.

The Messiah Concert

Handel’s Messiah excerpts will be performed in St Agnes’ Church on Sunday, 15 December at 2.00pm. Tickets available from the Glasshouse box office for $25.00. Listen to your favourite choruses and take time out to revel in this glorious Baroque music as Cantorus choir accompanied by the renowned organ-ise Heather Moen Boyd take you on a wonderful pre Christmas journey.

PARISH NEWS St AGNES’ CATHOLIC CHURCH | PORT MACQUARIE

Friday 15 November

No Midday Mass or Reconciliation There will be no Reconciliation or Midday Mass on Friday, 15 November. Our beloved Jenni Searson, parish music co-ordinator, passed away during the week. Her funeral will be held on Friday, 15 November at 10.00am in St Agnes’ Church. May Jenni rest in peace and may her warm smile and beautiful spirit be etched in our hearts and minds for years to come.

November Mass Intentions Please ensure all names are CLEARLY PRINTED and the envelope is clearly labelled November Masses. You can place envelopes on collection plates, or leave them at the Presbytery Office.

Tuesday, 12 November: Deceased family members of Roelofs van de Pas, Enid & Jack O’Dea, Anna Saunders; Pat Francisco, Sr Elsie Krelle, Luke McGrath, deceased members of Gilligan, Francisco, Prettyman and Cullen families; Kevin Chuck, Pat Chuck, Peter Chuck; Bert, Vera & John Brooks, Kit, Claude, John, David, Peter Schulties, Les & Kevin Tinker, deceased members of Nichols family; Adam Triggell; Margaret Heagney, John Heagney, Michael Heagney, Matthew Locke, Brett Wood, deceased relatives & friends of Heagney & Ryan families, Bernard Heagney, Leo Heagney, Australian soldiers who died in Afghanistan war; Linda & Clive Denham, Joan Pearse; Anne Ossino, Luke Fisher, Emily O’Brien, Shenaga O’Brien, Tony Needs. Wednesday, 13 November: Deceased members of Quinn & Ginman families; John Hayward, deceased relatives & friends of Hayward family; Ronald Johnson, Mary, William McFarlane, deceased members of Johnson family; deceased members of Maher, Titheradge & Lowry families; Kathleen & Cyril O’Neill, Victor Hawtin, Gus & Edna O’Neill, Phillip & Jim Oats, Tony Tynan, Shiela Shephard; John Herring; deceased members of Rose, Carlon, Curtis & White families; deceased members of Cassidy & Corr families; Fred & Anna Wilmink, Damien Van Duynhoven, Albert Jacobs & family; Walter Dick, Jess & Reg Moylan, Mary & Gordon Dick; Ned Kundicevic, Romarico Odrunia, Jesusa Ochavez, Fernanda Odrunia, Mercedes Delfin, Elvero Delfin, Esperanza Oxemer, Nelieta Jaspe, Valeriano Ochavez, Fernanda Obligacion, Merlinda Intrepido. Thursday, 14 November: Thomas Raymond Dick, Josephina Sepaya, Emlio Sepaya Sr, Rogelio Sepaya, Emilio Sepaya Jr, Suzette Sepaya, Jose Vallejo; deceased members of Breakspear, Merlino & Ferlazzo families; deceased members of Cashman & Quinn families; deceased members of Byrnes, Keating & William families; Glad & Harold Grose, Shirley Billington, Pat Huxtable, Ann Woodbury; Tom Lindsay, Viv & Daisy Hughes, Jack & Gladys Ripon, deceased members of Hughes & Ripon families.

Parish Women’s Retreat

All women parishioners and friends are invited to attend a special retreat being held at the Francis Retreat in Bonny Hills on Saturday, 7 December. We are looking forward to sharing this time together and listening to guest presenter Annie Lawrence. Please save the date and watch this

space for further details.

Volunteer At Vinnies Your local Vinnies shop at Port Macquarie is currently recruiting new volunteers for the summer with full training provided. Volunteers can help with customer service, operating the cash register and sorting donations.

All roles give you the opportunity to learn new skills, give back to your community and meet Centrelink mutual obligation requirements. For more information please call the shop on 6584 1168 or just drop in.

Bushfire Appeal Donations can still be made to the Diocesan Bushfire Appeal. You can place these in an envelope on the weekend collection plates or take to the Presbytery Office. If you prefer to direct deposit a donation please see bank details below:

Bank: Commonwealth Bank BSB: 062 565 Account No: 10854726 Account Name: Diocesan Investment Fund Reference: Fire Appeal. Please be aware that all donations to the bushfire appeal are not tax deductible

From the Catacombs - here & beyond Episcopuss Wisdom… From the Catechism…

Recently Deceased: Jenni Searson, Kathy Donnelly, Joyce Dixon, Jim Hamill. Anniversaries: John Cutcliffe, Moira Cahill, Theresa Moussalli, Basil Smith, Valerie Rose, Angus Cooney, Ellen Norman, Mario Tomasovic. Other Mass Intentions: Mark Loman, Hilton Dodds, John Hibbard, Jim O’Reilly, Beryl Thomas, Mary Shiela Moon, Marija Miller, donor intentions and masses of thanksgiving.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What’s happening in our parish …

Baptisms We welcome Della Hughes into our Parish

community this weekend.

Parish Hospitality Sunday, 17 November, following the 5.00pm

Mass our parish hospitality will be hosted by Youth United. Please stay after Mass and enjoy a cuppa and a chat.

Angelus Prayer Group Will be held on Monday, 11 November at

10.00am in the Presbytery boardroom. Enquiries to Rose on 0415 435 135.

Care & Concern Group Will be holding its last meeting for the year

on Tuesday, 12 November at the Bean Tree Café at 12.30pm. Thank you for all the time you have given and God Bless.

Lake Cathie Ladies Morning Tea

Ladies are invited to Caramels, Ocean Drive Lake Cathie on Thursday, 14 November at 10.30am to come together and enjoy a shared morning tea.

Catholic Women’s League

The CWL will be holding its November meeting on Friday, 15 November at the John Worner Centre. A reminder to members that fees and Christmas money will be due at that meeting.

Christian Meditation. Held each Wednesday in St Francis of Assisi

Chapel from 5.30pm to 6.30pm. This is an open invitation to all our parishioners.

For more information contact Simon on 0412 236 977.

PARISH NEWS St AGNES’ CATHOLIC CHURCH | PORT MACQUARIE

‘So then, let us aim for harmony in the church

& try to build each other up.’

Romans 14:19

‘A happy heart is like good medicine, but a broken spirit

drains your strength.’ Proverbs 17:22

Quote from Pope Francis’ Angelus address on 22 September

‘In life, it is not those who have so many riches who bear fruit, but those who

create and keep so many bonds, so many relationships, so many friendships

through the different ‘riches’, that is, the different gifts with which God has

endowed them.’

READERS AND COMMENTATORS

6pm Vigil: Margaret Donnelly Maureen Dick Robert Green

7.30am: Shane Talty Saidee Talty Brian Tierney

9.00am: Denise Puzas Gary Gallagher Tess Koning

5.00pm: Brad Vergano St Agnes Primary School Andrea Gutierrez-Valverde

Daniel Ward

GIFT BEARERS ROSTER

6pm Vigil: B & G Green 7.30am: B & W Arhtur-Pfeil 9.00am: K Cooper & Family

THE STATUE OF OUR LADY For the Month of November Bill Coghlan Ph: 6584 2470 CHILDREN’S LITURGY Craig Brazel Lisa James

Parish Priest Father Paul Gooley

Assistant Priest Father Peter Wood Parish Office 47 Hay Street Port Macquarie PO Box 23 T (02) 6583 1024 E pastoraloffice@stagnesparish.org.au

Office Hours: 8.30am - 4.30pm

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION

6pm Vigil: Peter Brooks Joy Amos Maureen Dick Rudolf Szibrowski

7.30am: David Hogan Denise McLoughlin Pat McLoughlin Anne O’Brien

9.00am: Jacob Soerensen Jenny Soerensen Judy Brady Pat Daley

5.00pm: Chris Kalchbauer Cath Freeman Carol Briscoe Peter Briscoe

NEXT WEEK’S READINGS 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Malachi 3:19-20 Psalm 97 2 Thess 3:7-12 Luke 21:5-19

ROSTERS 16-17 November 2019

DOGMA

“The two most important days

in your life are the day you are born and the day you

find out why.”

Mark Twain

_________________________

FEAST DAYS

Monday 11 November St Martin of Tours

Tuesday 12 November St Josaphat

Friday 15 November

St Albert the Great

Saturday 16 November St Margaret of Scotland

St Gertrude

ST AGNES’ CHURCH | Hay Street, Port Macquarie Tuesday & Wednesday: 5.15pm Friday: 12.05pm Saturday: 6.00pm Vigil Sunday: 7.30am, 9.00am, 5.00pm Please note: Weekday Masses at 9.00am on Public Holidays Reconciliation: Friday 11.30am - 12.00pm Saturday 11.30am - 12.30pm

ST FRANCIS CHAPEL | Lochinvar Place, Port Macquarie Contact: Sr Anne Hannigan Ph 6589 9814 or 0419 243 259. Communion Service or Mass: 9.30am Monday - Thursday Sunday Mass: 9.30am

CHRIST THE KING CHAPEL | Boronia St, Port Macquarie Contact: Sr Anne Hannigan Ph: 6589 9814 or 0419 243 259 Communion Service or Mass: 8.00am Thursday Mass: Saturday Vigil - 4.30pm Rosary: 1st Saturday of the month 4.00pm.

ST BERNARD'S, TELEGRAPH POINT | Rollands Plain Rd, Telegraph Point Thursday: 6.00pm.

STAR OF THE SEA, LAKE CATHIE | Ocean Drive, Lake Cathie Sunday: 8.00am.

DIOCESAN INVESTMENT FUND PAYS 1.40% There are no fees or charges on your account. AGENTS: Mrs Veronica Rinkin & Mrs Mary O’Brien

DIF Office, Parish Administration Centre, Phone: (02) 6583 7439 9am – 1pm Monday - Friday

PARISH MASSES www.stagnesparish.org.au